Pole butt ground plate



March 13, 1951 e. c. SALMONS 2,545,048

POLE BUTT GROUND PLATE Filed Oct. 29, 1948 r 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 @MJ/M Filed Oct. 29, 1948 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 March 13, 1951 G. c. SALMONS 2,545,048

POLE BUTT GROUND PLATE eoge C1 K457401 24 MA? W.

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Patented Mar. 13, 1951 POLE BUTT GROUND PLATE George C. Salmons, Centralia, Mo., assignor to A. B. Chance Company, Centralia, Mo., a corporation of Missouri Application October 29, 1948, Serial No. 57,241

2 Claims.

The present invention relates to pole butt ground plates, and is particularly concerned with the provision of an improved ground plate which is adapted to be used on the butt end of a telephone pole or a transmission line pole for effecting a better connection to ground.

One of the objects of the invention is the pro vision of an improved ground plate for pole butts which has an extended area in contact with the ground.

Another object of the invention is the provision of an improved ground plate for pole butts which, when secured to the butt of the pole, assists in holding the pole against lateral shifting in the hole so that the pole may be centrally placed and th hole filled and packed with dirt on all sides, and the butt of the pole will not shift because the points of the ground plat are embedded in the earth beneath the butt of the pole.

Another object of the invention is the provision of an improved ground plate for pole butts which is simple, capable of economical manufacture, so constructed that the plates nest together conveniently for packing and shipment, and adapted to have a greater area of the plate in contact with the ground than the devices of th prior art.

Another object of the invention is the provision of an improved ground plate for pole butts, which may be constructed out of sheet steel without any substantial waste of the material, because a square pattern may be used and the corners may be turned upward at right angles to form additional prongs.

Still another object is the provision of an improved ground plate of the class described, the prongs of which ar suitably re-enforced against bending out of their normal position and which is provided with an improved form of connector for securing the ground wire in such manner that the ground wire will never become loose, since the spring which is employed will take up any slack and will also keep the nut from becoming loose.

Othe objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following description and the accompanying drawings, in which similar characters of reference indicate similar parts throughout the several views.

Referring to the two sheets of drawings accompanying the specification,

Fig. 1 is a side elevational view of the butt end of a transmission line pole provided with a ground plate embodying my invention;

Fig. 2 is a top plan view of the ground plate;

2 Fig. 3 is a side elevational view of the ground plate;

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary sectional view showing how th ground plates may be nested together because of the shape and arrangement of the prongs;

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary view in perspective, showing one way of securing the ground wire to the plate, utilizing one of the prongs for this purpose;

Fig. 6 is a bottom plan view of another modification which is so constructed that there is less waste of material;

Fig. 7 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional View taken on the plane of the line 1-1, looking in the direction of the arrows, but with the prong inverted relative to Figure 6;

.Fig. 8 is a fragmentary sectional view taken on the plane of the line '8-8 of Figure 6, looking in the direction of the arrows, showing how one of the corners of a rectangular plate may be used for a prong;

Fig. 9 is an enlarged fragmentary elevational view of the connector for the ground wire, taken on the plane of the line 99 of Figure 6, looking in the direction of the arrows; and

Fig. 10 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view taken on the plane of th lin Ill-l0 of Figure 6, looking in the direction of the arrows.

Referring to Fig. 1, l0 indicates the butt end of a transmission line ortelephone pole disposed in its hole in the earth [2 and provided with a ground plate 13 embodying my invention, and

having a ground Wire II. The ground plate 13 preferably comprises a circular piece of sheet metal, such as galvanized steel plate or a copper alloy plate of a suitable thickness, such as, for example, No. 12 gauge.

The ground wire may consist of a bare copper wire ll brazed to the plate adjacent one edge thereof, as shown in Fig. 2, the wire being of suitable size, such as, for example, a No. 6.

The plate l3 has a flat body I5 provided with a plurality of symmetrically located nail holes [6 to 20, by means of which it is secured to the butt of the pole 10. The fiat body I5 is provided with a plurality of angular cuts, such as, for example, it is sheared at 2|, 22; and the resulting prong 23 is bent down alon the line 24 at right angles to the body [5.

The two shear cuts 21, 22 are preferably at an angle of sixty degrees, and the cuts are equal in length to each other and to the base of the prong 23 so that the aperture 25 is an equilateral triangle; and the prong 23 is likewise equilateral of bend 2 3 on radial lines extending from the.

center hole 86 to the periphery 26; and I locate the apices 2'5 of the triangular hole .inthe. same circle.

I prefer to make the prongs of substantial size; and I prefer to arrange them in two circles, there being an inner circle of four prongs in the example selected to illustrate the invention. .The lines of bend or bases of the prongs may be located forty-five degrees apart in the outer circle of prongs and ninety degrees apart in the inner circle'of prongs.

When one plate is put on top of another; itwill be found that the prongs of the upper plate extend into the holes of the lower plateyand this is true, even though a multiplicity of plates are placed one on top of the other, as illustrated in Fig. 4.

Since the prongs 23'are engaged on both sides by theear-th, they have a greater area of the plate in engagement with th earth, and therefore provide a better ground for the same amount of metal than a plate which does not-have such prongs. The sharp edges formed by shear cuts and the points of the prongs may be slightly rounded in order to protect the workers and their clothing, which might otherwise be cut or damaged by such sharp edges and points.

Various ways of attaching the ground wire may be employed; and in Fig. 5 one way is illustrated, in which the ground wireii extends along the bottom of the plate across the hole 25; and the prong 23 has been bent backward .aroundthe ground wire and bent through the aperture 25 until it is wrapped around-the ground wire and engaged against-the top of the plate. In addition to this clamping arrangement, the wire may also be brazed to the prong or plate.

Referring to Figure 6 and, to Figure 10, these are views showing a, preferred modification which has the advantage of less waste ofmaterial than is encountered whentheground plates are made of circular shape. The ground plateBil is made of a rectangular pattern, preferably-square, so that th re will be no waste in cutting the square blanks from the steel sheet.

The corners of the square pattern are turned up to form prongs iii-3d,: which are provided with a right-angle apex 35, and are shown in Figure 8. The body 36 of the plate is again formed with a multiplicity of prongstl, punched out of the body and forming apertures 38. These prongs 3? are in the general form of an isosceles triangle, the sides of which are longer than the base thereby making the prongs more pointed than in Figure 2; and the tip of each prong 3? is cut off providing a flat end 353 and leaving-a short flat side it extending across the apex of the apertures 38. Thus the prongs will be less sharp, having a blunt end, and there-will be less chance of damage to the person and clothing of workers.

Each of the prongs 37 is preferably formed at it base, where it joins with the body 35, with an integral pressed ribi l, the rib projecting into the corner between the body 36 and prong 3i, and having a hollowgroove 32 on the side toward the aperture 38. The pressed ribs 48 re-enforce the prongs 3i and positively prevent their being bent out of their normal position, which is at right angles to the body 36, except by the use of considerable force.

The corner prongs 3|--34 are also preferably provided with a pair of these pressed ribs it, i l, these being located adjacent the outer corners of the prongs 3i34 at the juncture of the prongs with the body 36.

'The prongs and apertures are preferably arranged-inatwo circles, with their apices extending ,in thesame direction and located in the two i circles, exactly as "described with respect to the body 36, at a plurality of points 4? of the connector has an outwardly projecting in turn isengaged by a nut 51.

Figure 2.

Referring to Figures 9 and 6, one of the prongs may be omitted to provide space for a connector assembly 45 for the ground wire 46. This connector assembly may consist of a substantially rectangular base 31, which may be spot-welded to The base threaded stud 59,- and it is also preferably provided witha transverse groove 50 on one side for receiving the ground wire as.

The clamping member 5! comprises asubstantially rectangular body, having an enlarged aperture 52 for passing the threaded stud 39. At one side clamping member 5! is provided with a partially cylindrical surface 53, engaging the base il and-providing a limited amount of pivotal movement. At. its other side clamping member 5i is provided with a transverse groove 54, opposing the groove liil for receiving the ground wire 45.

The grooves 54 andtll may be partially cylindrical and are adapted to receive different sizes of ground wires. Onits opposite .side the clamping member 5i has a plane annular surface 55 for engagement with a spring lock-washer 56, which When the nut Si! is driven 'homethen the spring lock-washer 56 may be compressed until it is all. in the same, plane and in arigid condition.

.The clamping member 5i pivots 0n the'cylindrical surface53, and its grooves at and 54. act as jaws for clamping, the ground wire M5.

The operation of my'ground plate is substantially the same as. theground plates of the prior -art, in that'it is secured to the bottom of the pole [0. ;A plurality of ordinary wire nails may be driven through theapertures lt2i} into the pole butt before the pole is lowered into its hole. The ground wire is, of course, also attached at this time-and secured by staples to the side of the pole.

-When the pole is inserted in the hole and centered therein, theweight of the pole rests upon the ground plate, providing a tight contact with the. earth beneath it; and the prongs 23 are driven into the earth, increasing the area of cOntact,since the earth engages each prong on both sides.

The. prongs will keep the pole butt from shifting. in the vholewhilethe fill is being replaced;

. and a very eilicient connection to ground is provided by the plateand prongs.

Although the ground plates have projecting prongs, they have been so arranged thatthey nest in the holes of theadjacentplates; and therefore .theground plates may be conveniently packed for shipping and may bestored in small spaces.

While I have illustrated ajpreferred embodiment of my invention,- many'modifications may be made without departing from the spirit of the invention, and I do not wish to be limited to the precise details of construction set forth, but desire to avail myself of all changes within the scope of the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States, is:

1. In a pole butt ground plate, the combination of a substantially square sheet metal member, said member having its corner portions bent outwardly at substantially right angles along a line which transforms the square sheet into an octagonal member, the said sheet also having a multiplicity of triangular holes punched out of it forming triangular prongs extending outwardly in the same direction as said corner portions, the said prongs being in the shape of isosceles triangles and having the bends at their bases extending in a radial direction, and the prongs being equally spaced radially, all of said prongs and corner portions having at their bends reenforcing ribs joining the body of the plate and the prong and corner portions, a connector base welded to said plate and having a threaded stud, a nut on said stud and a clamping plate apertured to receive said threaded stud, and having a curved pivot surface at one end and a clamping groove at the other end.

2. In a pole butt ground plate, the combination of a substantially square sheet metal memher, said member having its corner portions bent outwardly at substantially right angles along a line which transforms the square sheet into an octagonal member, the said sheet also having a multiplicity of triangular holes punched out of it forming triangular prongs extending outwardly in the same direction as said corner portions, the said prongs being in the shape of isosceles triangles and having the bends at their bases extending in a radial direction, and the prongs being equally spaced radially, a connector base welded to said plate and having a threaded stud, a nut on said stud and a clamping plate apertured to receive said threaded stud, and having a curved pivot surface at one end and a clamping groove at the other end.

GEORGE C. SALMONS.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS 

